Highlights

• Transgender U.S. Air Force service members sue the Trump administration for early retirement benefits.
• Denial of benefits affects up to $2 million in pension and military health coverage per plaintiff.
• About 4,200 service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria face restrictions under the administration.

A group of transgender U.S. Air Force service members has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after being denied early retirement benefits.

The lawsuit targets a 2017 executive order that barred transgender individuals from serving in the military, claiming that medical and mental health conditions made them “incompatible” with military service.

The action represents a continuing legal struggle against restrictions placed on transgender troops.

Air Force Denies Early Retirement for Transgender Service Members

The lawsuit stems from an August Air Force decision that denied transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service the option of early retirement and related military benefits.

Read More: Why is gender equality important for a sustainable tomorrow?

According to GLAD Law, which represents the plaintiffs, the Air Force had already issued retirement orders in June. Regulations permit cancellation of retirement only in limited circumstances, such as fraud or mathematical errors, none of which applied to these service members.

Michael Haley, a staff attorney at GLAD Law, said that taking away these retirement benefits affects service members’ families and financial stability, potentially costing each individual up to $2 million in pension benefits and military health coverage.

Legal Context: Trump Administration’s Actions Against Transgender Troops

This lawsuit comes on the back of a wider pattern of Trump administration policies restricting transgender rights. The Supreme Court temporarily permitted the administration to bar transgender troops while ongoing legal challenges continue.

Earlier actions by the administration included banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and ending the policy of self-identifying gender on passports.

Also Read: DOJ Memo Calls on Federal Grant Recipients to End DEI Practices

According to a senior defense official, about 4,200 service members had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria as of December 2017. This accounts for approximately 0.21 percent of the military, including active duty, reserves, and National Guard personnel.

Impact on Service Members and Families

Plaintiffs, including Logan Ireland, a master sergeant with 15 years of service, who also served in Afghanistan, averred that the cancellation of their retirements was a betrayal of their sacrifices. Losing early retirement benefits and military health insurance threatens the economic security of transgender veterans and their families.

See Also: City of Seattle Wins Court Block on DEI and Gender Executive Orders

These service members, according to GLAD Law, had fulfilled their military duties and availed themselves of these benefits through years of service, making the denial part of wider discriminatory policies targeting transgender individuals in the U.S.

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Source: The Washington Post